BY
Muhammad Jamil Abubakar.
Immunization in Northern Nigeria has been a critical yet challenging aspect of public health efforts in the region.
The region has historically faced significant obstacles in achieving widespread vaccination coverage, making it a focus of both national and international health initiatives.
Northern Nigeria has been particularly notable in the global health community due to its struggle with polio eradication.
It was one of the last reservoirs of wild poliovirus in the world, with cases persisting until recent years.
This situation was exacerbated by a combination of factors including Cultural and religious misconceptions about vaccines, Political challenges, and security issues in some areas, Inadequate health infrastructure in rural regions, and Low levels of education and awareness about the benefits of immunization.
In Gombe State, the ongoing immunization campaign has generated diverse reactions from communities, health officials, and local leaders, reflecting the complex nature of public health efforts in the region.
Radio Nigeria visited some communities in Gombe and Kwami, Local Government Areas of Gombe State where divergent views of challenges and successes of administering vaccines were expressed.
Ibrahim Ahmad Ibrahim and Sam’an Shehu both middle-aged men of Shango Bolawa, a community in Kwami Local Government, remain hesitant citing cultural misconceptions and long-standing family traditions about vaccines.
They expressed their skepticism, saying there’s still mistrust regarding the vaccines, believing that it’s a Western plot to control the population of Nigeria, especially the North.
Abdul Salam Ibrahim of Anguwan Wuro Liman in Gombe Local Government decried his inability to vaccinate his children due to the non-availability of a primary health care facility close to him.
He said no health official has ever come to his community to administer immunization to children in his area, adding that they have been neglected by health officials and the government.
Abdul Salam said that if vaccines are readily available in their community he will gladly immunize his children.
Also, Yunusa Adamu of the Bada Koshi community in Kwami Local Government attributed the non-compliance with routine immunization to the economic hardship being faced in the country.
Yunusa Adamu said most parents especially in rural communities go to farm with their children to cultivate crops, thereby missing out on some of the routine immunization.
It is against this backdrop that the UNICEF Bauchi Field Office earlier organized a workshop for journalists in Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Jos, and Taraba states on the role of the media in integrated vaccination campaigns.
The UNICEF’s Social Behavior Change Specialist George Eki during the event sought the support of Journalists in enlightening the public on the misconceptions associated with vaccines.
Unicef has been partnering with government and relevant stakeholders in increasing routine immunization coverage for children under five years old, strengthening healthcare infrastructure to improve vaccine delivery, addressing vaccine hesitancy by educating communities on the importance of immunization and supporting the government in eradicating vaccine-preventable diseases like polio, measles, and diphtheria.
